Shotgun Shooting

As with rifle shooting, good shotgun marksmanship begins with proper preparation, which includes adjusting your gun and ammunition for maximum performance and mastering shotgun techniques.

Matching Choke to Your Quarry

A choke allows you to fine-tune your shotgun for the type of game you’re hunting. Built-in or attached to the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can be constricted to create a tighter pattern of shot, thus controlling pattern density at various distances.

The tighter the constriction, the longer the cluster of shot stays together. The looser the constriction, the faster the shot pattern spreads. Recall that the most common chokes, ranging from tightest to widest, are:

• Full
• Modified
• Improved Cylinder
• Cylinder (unchoked)

For example, someone hunting small, fast birds would generally use an improved cylinder or modified choke, which creates a broad shot pattern that spreads quickly at close ranges. Conversely, someone hunting a larger, less mobile bird, such as a turkey, would select a full choke, which concentrates the shot in a tighter pattern. Pellet size also varies based on the size of the game.

The chart on the next page suggests choke and shot sizes for a variety of game. It is intended only as a guide—choice of choke and shot size may vary depending on ammunition, target distance, and hunting conditions.